Carl the Peacock

Jul 20, 2024

Happy Saturday friends!

I was driving on Friendship Rd this week and had just slowed down to cross the railroad track when I had to come to a sudden stop. There were people stopped on either side of the two lane road but I couldn't see why. Suddenly Carl the Peacock strolled into view. He was walking back and forth in front of both front cars, admiring his reflection.

Well what in the world. I hadn't met Carl yet, but I had heard about this crazy peacock on Old US 1. The owner recently moved him to Friendship Rd and here we were.

The car in front of me waited until Carl was in front of the car across from him and left. Everyone was just sitting there wondering what to do. Well, I'm a farm girl, I can handle this right? I got out, grabbed a throw I had in the backseat and headed toward the peacock who, walked right up to me.

Huh. That was odd.

I flapped my throw at him. Carl just looked at me. He was a little haughty honestly, he knew he had all the power and I had none.

I told him, "Go on. Scooch on over to the side so everyone can get by. Scooch scooch scooch." He walked into the ditch at a leisurely pace. Perfect. I went around the front of my car to get back in but there he was, heading toward me around the back of my car, eyeing himself as he walked by.

LOL

"Okay, look dude, you're going to unalive yourself out here, go on!" I shooed him back to the ditch while about eight cars looked on. Some guy, fourth back in line decided to floor it and fly by me while I was standing in the middle of the road.

Nice. I felt extra safe. 🙄

With Carl behind my car, I decided to give up and head on home. I had tried. I rolled slowly away and watched Carl hurry after my car! Luckily he stopped and went back to the line of shiny cars where he could admire himself some more.

On my way home I called B-Rad and told him about it so he'd know what was going on if he got caught up in the traffic jam the peacock was creating. He decided to stop and see if he could get Carl back home. I hung up and called my neighbor (thinking she might know the owner) who told me that Carl was kinda mean and I was lucky that he hadn't attacked me! OMG! I called B-Rad right back, "Ack! Be careful! Apparently Carl might attack you!"

B-Rad laughed and said, "Really? There is a woman standing out in the road feeding him right now!" Apparently Carl likes women 😉

He pulled over into a driveway and got out to see if he could get the bird off the road. At that point, Carl was standing in the middle of the road and people were slowly driving by, running over his tail feathers.

Now I know why he had so few tail feathers.

B-Rad came to the same realization that I did, not much to do. He left Carl in the middle of the road and got back in his car. He heard a rushing sound and got back out to see...

Carl had claimed his car 😂

Rural living is always fun!

UPCOMING:

The next FREE Women's Open Studio night is Friday, July 26th from 6-8pm. Bring whatever art/craft you're working on or paint a mandala rock with supplies I have available or color an adult coloring page with markers :-) This is a time to get together, hang out, talk, maybe make a new friend. I have 6 more spots available, text me if you'd like to come 720-635-7015

THE RANCH:

Among the days of crazy heat or crazy storms we occasionally have a bluebird day:

The Muscadines are getting big, should be dark purple and edible in August and I can't wait:

I'm sure there are fairies that live under these:

•••

Earlier this week B-Rad told me what he had for dinner the night before while he was playing pool at a local place. He then said someone got, "Chopped steak with gravy."

I thought he said, "Chopstick with gravy." and I was sitting there thinking: a) what the heck is that? and b) how the hell do you eat it?

Until it unraveled itself in my brain and I heard what he actually said and then I couldn't stop laughing 😂 Funny how we hear things sometimes isn't it?

•••

I saw this fabulous short on Instagram this week and had to share! In case you can't view it here it is:

She first says: It's a familiar scene for many of us who lean towards people-pleasing: when someone pushes our boundaries, we often react in ways that put our own needs second. We might say 'yes' when we're screaming 'no' inside or laugh off discomfort (oh gawd, she's talking to me 🙋‍♀️) to avoid confrontation. It's important to recognize these patterns because we silently tell ourselves that our comfort and well-being don't matter when we ignore our boundaries.

7 Ways to respond when someone pushes your boundaries:

1. You're right, I used to be okay with this, but I've changed my preferences.

2. I know things have changed, but I'm sharing what I need with you to try to make this relationship work.

3. I understand you feel differently about this, but that doesn't mean I have to change my mind.

4. My feelings aren't something that I want to negotiate with you.

5. This is what I want, and I would love your support, but I don't need your permission.

6. I appreciate your concern, but I won't discuss this further.

7. There are some situations that I don't want to put myself in anymore, so I'll have to say no.

So very clear! I particularly love #1, 5, and 6.

•••

THINGS I LOVE:

I've held off on talking about these until I knew for sure but seriously, I can't stop singing their praises to friends and family!

Have you heard of the Loop earplugs? They are small, light, fit flat inside your ear (don't stick out past your ear like those standard foam earplugs that make you look like Shrek), come with different sized tips for the perfect fit, and this cute carrying case that fits anywhere, including the tiny front "pockets" they give women's jeans. And they even fit my tiny ear canals!

If you're being served stuff on Loop earplugs on all the socials like I was and are curious, you can read why I think they are so great here!

•••

To everyone who sent me lovely emailed replies after Raynie's death, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I finally felt capable of responding this week only to find that they have all disappeared. I'm so sad! Where could they have all gone? I can't figure it out but I will keep digging, maybe they are hiding somewhere?

THE MEMES!

This made us laugh over here at the farm. Someone is quirky, I love it! That is a Tesla with Toyota Prius badges on it—who knows why!

I showed this graph to B-Rad. I told him that I wouldn't have any trouble retreating into my imagination for 15 minutes, would he? He said if there was something in there that was interesting, he would want to check it out/take it apart/see what it was. I asked, "What if there was something that said it would shock you?" And he said, "I would want to know how hard the shock was."

And then we laughed and laughed 😂 Men are from Mars, women are from Venus:

Or a child who would suddenly bend down, peel old, dried gum off the floor at Lowe's Hardware and stick it in her mouth to chew! (daughter) Did I? DID I KNOW THAT?